Cotton stripper



E. DUGAN COTTON STRIPPER Oct. 20, 1953 Filed July 18, 1951 3 Sheets-Sheet 1 S@ www m wm m` v v 2 QS ma; 2. QQ s N Q QS Qm E R t vm mm, vm wm Q vv vm m N Nm Wm. h N 0 M. .QN o W vw m. vm .ww @.0 www mx e R R R bb` @W8 G Qmm.. S QS n, mm wk. n om Q\\ m. .Si

Edd Dugan A INVENTOR.

BY d

WW @M 'ct. 20, 1953 E. DUGAN.

,COTTON STRIPPER Filed July 18, 1951 3 Sheets- Sheet 2 Edd Dugan INVENTOR.

BY WM M1521;

E. DUGAN COTTON STRIPPER Oct.- 20, 1953 I 5 Sheets-Sheet 5 Filed July-` 18, 1951-- m .Sm

mJ R. m D. NR. nm'lh M M N .mom E m .mi W n .Sm .bww E @NVE oww A H .mvwIwmw/ E zzz n w The extensions 44 are suitably fixed to the frame |6 and in such a manner as to support the trough 46 in an upwardly and rearwardly inclined position as shown in Figures 2 and 3. The trough 48 houses an endless elevator belt 48 that is trained about rollers, such as 56, rotatably mounted in the trough. Cleats 52 are mounted on the belt 48 to increase the efficiency of the elevator belt in lifting cotton.

The rear portion of the belt 82 is disposed above the forward portion of the belt 48 so that cotton leaving the belt 32 will pass on to the belt 48 and the cotton is thus conducted to a disposal zone or truck disposed beneath the uppern discharge end of the trough 46.

A stripper roll mount is applied to the rear wall 58 of the casing member or frame l0 and consists of a pair of hanger straps 54 and 54a whose upper ends are pivoted to the wall 53. The lower end 54h of the strap 54 is pivoted to a bearing 56 that rotatably supports the reduced end 58h of a suitable stripper or stripping roll 58. Springs 80 and 60D connect the straps 54 and 54a to the wall 53 and urge the lower ends of the straps upwardly. An upper horizontal rod 64 is slidably supported by the bearing 58 and is also slidably supported by a bearing or block 8l pivoted to the lower apertured end of the strap 54a. A coil spring 68 surrounds the rod 82 and is biased between bearing 56 and the block 61 and urges the bearing 58 and the block 6l against nuts 88 and 89, respectively, that are threaded on the ends of rod 62. The nuts 68 and 69 are manually adjustable to permit longitudinal adjustment of the bearing 56 on the rod 62 and lateral adjustment of the roll 88 relative to the stripping bar 30.

A power driven yshaft is mounted on the lframe I0 for rotation. One end of the shaft 'l0 is operatively connected to a prime mover or 'power take-off Ishaft and the other end of the shaft l0 carries a multiple pulley 'I2 that is connected to pulleys 'I4 and T6 by belts 'I8 and 80. The pulley 'I4 is mounted on the lower roller 50 of the elevator belt 48 and the pulley 16 is fixed on the reduced end of the roll 58. The lower roller of the elevator is connected to the upper roller of the side -conveyor by a pulley belt and pulleys as indicated generally by the numeral 02 in Figures 1 and 5.

Means is provided for lifting and guiding plants toward the stripping roll 58 and this means consists of a pair of arms or dividers 84 and 86 whose rear eye ends 88 and 90 are slidably and swingably mounted on a rod 92 slidably and adjustably carried by the bearing 56 and the block 6l. Relatively light springs 94 surround the rod 82 and are disposed between the eyes 88, 90 land the bearings 56, 61 and an additional relatively light coil spring 66 on the rod 92 biases the eyes 88 and 80 apart (Figure 5). Nuts 91 lare threaded on the ends of the rod 92 and 'are manually adjustable for retaining the eyes 88 and 90 adjusted longitudinally upon the rod 92.

The forward ends of the arms 84 land 86 are integrally formed with enlarged fingers or guide members 98 and |00 that extend forwardly past the forward end of the roll 58. These guide members include upwardly and rearwardly inclined tapered portions |02 and |04 that extend rearwardly past the forward end of the roll 58 lat an inclined angle with the roll. The rear end of the portion I 04 extends rearwardly past the rear end of the portion |02 yso that cotton on plants passing between the fingers 98 and |00 will not mingle with cotton or plants passing between flnger |00 and portion I8 until the plants have cleared the forward end of the roll.

An arch |06 joins the outside vertical walls 24 and 38 of the portion I8 and the member 26, respectively. A pair of hanger members or curved swivel rods |08 and ||0 include upper ends that lare swiveled to the arch |08 and lower ends that are suitably fixed to the lingers 98 and |00 to support the lingers 68 and |00 above the ground and to permit swinging and lateral movement of the fingers.

In practical use of the present invention as thus described in Figures 1-6, inclusive, as the frame is pulled o-ver the cultivated ground, the

cotton plants will enter between the points 22 and 38; the fingers 98 and |60; or between nger 98 and point 316; or finger |00 and point 22. The plants are then lifted and guided by the lingers and the arms toward the stripping roller.

As the cotton is stripped from its plant by the roller 56 and the doiiing ange 80, the cotton will fall upon the side conveyor and will `be then directed upon the elevator where the cotton is disposed into a container, truck or the like.

Reference is now directed to Figures 7, 8 and 9, wherein the Wheeled frame 266 includes two hollow side portions 202 and 204 that are joined at their rear ends by a wall 206. A pair of vertical walls 208 and 2|0 are suitably mounted between the side portions 202 and 204 :and terminate in forwardly extending gatherers having lower pointed walls 2|2 and 2|4, and side walls 2|6 and 2|8. The upper edges of the wa-lls 208 and 2|0 are bent inwardly to provide dofng flanges 220 and 222, as shown in Figure 8.

A stripper roll mount is attached to the wall 208 and consists of a pair of straps 224 and 228 whose upper ends 224b and 2262: are pivoted to the wall 206. The straps 224 and 226 are connected by springs 201 and 201D to the wall 266. The lower end 224e of the strap 224 is pivoted to a bearing 228 and the lower end 22 6c of the strap '226 is pivoted to a block or bearing 230.

Upper and lower horizontal rods 232 and 234 are slidably carried -by the bearing 228 'and block 230, and an additional bearing 238 is slidably mounted on the rod 282. Nuts 238 are threaded on the ends of the rods 232 and 234. A coil spring 240 surrounds the upper rod 232 and is |biased between the bearing 236 and the block 230.

Bearings 228 and 2328 rotatably support the reduced ends 242b and 24412 of a pair of stripper or stripping rolls 242 and 244 that parallel the ilanges 220 and 222, and which yco'act with the flanges 220 and 222 in stripping cotton.

Vertically inclined side conveyors 248 and 248 are mounted between the side portions '202 and 204 and the vertical walls 208, 2 I8 land lead to a transverse trough 250 at the rear of the frame. A vertically inclined elevator 252 is supported on the frame and its lower portion underlies a central slot 254 in the trough 256 to receive and elevate cotton passing through the slot 254.

A power driven shaft-256 is mounted on the frame and operatively connectedto a power takeoif shaft or power means at its forward end. The rear end of the shaft 256 supports a multiple pulley 258 about which there is trained pulley belts 280, 262 and 284. The belt 260 is trained about a pulley 268 on the rear end of the roll 242 and the `belt 262 is trained about a pulley 268 on the rear end of the roll 244.

A shaft 210, attached to the lower drive roller of the elevator, is rotatably supported beneathA mese-,vert

the trouglr 250 and supportspu'll'eys 2-121 and 214 that areconnectedto'pulleys- 2116" and 2191011 thev The forward endsof the-arms 2190l and 2.92 areintegrally formed with enlarged guidemembers orfingers2-'98 and 300 that extend-forwardly past the forward ends of the. rolls. lille ngers'g rand' 300 include' rearwardly inclined portions: 3021 and; 304 that extend between andv rearwardlyfpass: the forward end'sof' thezrollsf.

An arch 306 joins-the walls A216 landifZlESnand supports depending'-curved-'swivef rod'slor hanger members 308 and 3H)v whose lower ends yare/affir-y tachedto the fingers 290'- and 300; The upperl ends of the rodsl 308v and 310 are secured' to thearch in such a manner as. to lloatinglyv supporti the forward ends of the arms'- between the gatherer shoes2l2 and12 I4.

The device thus-describedfunctions similarlyl to; that: of Figures l-6, inclusive,- in= thatthelnngers 298i, 31m-andi arms290y 292 liftiand' guide -th'e-cot= ton plants towardT the space between the two,- stripperv rollsA 242' and:` 244. The two Ii`r1gers=-2-98,v 3002 canmove sidewardlyT relative to. each: other' and are*` floatnglyr supported toeffectively' guide cotton. plants, even those lleaning 'or tilted", toi-- ward the slot between the twostripper rolls?.-

Figure 9 shows: the-swivel rods for the guide arms of the single stripper roll structure of Figures 1-6', inclusive, or the double-vk stripperrolll structure of Figures 7, 81 and 9, in slightly modi-l ed form. In thisl embodiment the` side portions. of theframe are connectedbya cross b'ar 31|'.l and this cross bar' supports universal swivels: 3.Il2A atI thei upperends-of the swivel barsv 3 |-4 whosewl'ower' ends are secured to the fingers F of the: guide armslA. Y

Figure l0 shows a single of the guide arms A supported between a pairof stripper rolls R and R. The arm A is mounted on a rear` portion of the frame and the fingers F at the forward end of the arm A extend upwardly and rearwardly past the forward ends of the rolls R and R to function similarly to the fingers of the arms previously described.

It should be noted that the forward ends of the rolls 58, 242, 244, R and R are rotatably supported and preferably slidably supported in bearings suitably secured to the frame. The bearing B shown supporting the forward end of the roll 58 in Figures 1 and 3 is of any sui-table type.

Figure 11 illustrates how two rollers of varying length may be incorporated in the present cotton stripping device. One of the stationary stripper frames 400 is formed with a notch 402 in which there is positioned a stripper roller 404 that coacts with a relatively long stripper roll 406 in stripping cotton.

The forward reduced end of the roll 404 is rotatably supported in a bearing 408 mounted by suitable means on the undersurface of the stripper frame 400.

Obviously the ends of the stripper rollers of any embodiment of the present invention may be tapered or straight.

In operation of the present invention, the rolls 6" or rollers: accomplish allof? the strippingi, The throat of the device will-be relative'lywlide although coliton-v will not] passl therethrough. TheL dCev-i'cewill -tendte properly. guide rolls` of? cottonplants into a stripping zone-even. during: nightlgafthering;

The rodi-642 receives the eye portion of an elongated' stripper *barvk 2 that ouerliesA the: 06 aszslrownA in Figures I, ltand: 5l. The forward' ollset endf3 of-the-barf i's-.semlredv by e;Y pin; 4:. to; the" `vertical wall of side. portion: IBi adjacent. the forwardend portionof? member |00?. The: bar 2'. willi coact withv thea-arms` 88'- andi '.90' in stripping` cottorr passing therebetween..

Springs 5i of -the rod.l 64 restri'ctbutapermit slid#- ing' movement of the eye portion I, ontheroida'h.

Having' describedthe: invention, what, is claiinedasriewi'sr:z

lf. In--a cotton row-'strippenincludingawheelede frame, ai pai-r of spaced walls! forming: part-off' thee frame, a pair ofgroun'dl hugging' gatherers said sidewalls and.v a-V stripping roll. mounted betweerrY sa-ifd sidewalls, meansoperatively attached to the stripper for lifting and guiding: cotton, tof-- war-d the stripping roll comprising a-n elongated' arm having for-wardy and` rear portions', means; swngably and sli'dablysecuring the,` rear of the arm to'A the frame, said am bein'gsuplported' 'alongside of and beneatlr said rnl1`,. a. fnl-1 ger on one forward portion of said arm inclini-nei' imwardl'yl and rearwardly toward-said) roll, and supporting means attached'- to--the frame and-sup:- porting the forward portion of said armi.

2. In a cotton row stripperinc'ludin'g ai wheeled? frame, apa-ir of spacedwalls forming partrof the frame, a vpair lof ground hugging gatherers on: said side; walls and a stripping rolll mounted bez-- tween-said side walls', means operatively attached to the' stripper for lifting andi guidingcotton to.-A

ward the stripping roll comprising an elongated arm having forward and rear portions,` mea-ns; swingably and? slidably securing the 'rear` portion. of the arm to the'frame, said arm being sup.- ported alongsidel of and. beneath: said roll?, a 'nngerA on the forward portion of saldi arminclining upwardly and rearwardly toward said roll, andi a:A hanger member attached to the forward portion of said arm and swiveled to said frame for supporting the forward portion of the arm.

3. In a cotton row stripper including a vertically inclined stripper roll having a forward end and a frame supporting the stripper roll, means operatively attached to the stripper for lifting and guiding cotton plants toward the stripper roll comprising an elongated arm, means slidably and swingably supporting the arm relative to the stripper roll, and a guide finger extending forwardly past the forward end of the roll and inclining upwardly toward and past the forward end of the roll.

4. In a cotton row `stripper including a frame and a pair of spaced parallel stripper rolls supported on the frame for rotation and including forward ends, means for lifting and guiding cotton plants toward the rolls and between the rolls, said means comprising an arm having forward and rear portions, means slidably and swingably supporting the rear portion of the arm on the frame, a nger integrally formed with the forward portion of the arm extending forwardly of the forward ends of the rolls and inclining upwardly and rearwardly past and between the forward ends of the rolls, and a hanger member attached to the frame and secured to the forsupporting the rear portion of the arm on the frame, a finger integrally formed with the forward portion of the arm extending forwardly of the forward ends of the rolls and inclinng upwardly and rearwardly past and between the forward ends of the rolls, and a curved hanger member having an upper end swiveled to the frame and a lower end secured to the nger.

6. In a cotton row stripper including a frame and a pair of spaced parallel vertically inclined stripper rolls supported for rotation on the frame and having forward ends, a cotton plant lifter and guider comprising a pair of arms located below and between the rolls, means slidably and swingably securing the rear ends of the arms to the frame, a nger on the forward end of each arm, said fingers extending forwardly of the rolls and inclining upwardly between and past the forward ends of the rolls, and means attached to the frame supporting the fingers between the rolls.

7. The combination of claim 6 wherein said last named means includes a pair of curved members having upper ends swiveled to the frame and lower ends secured to the lingers.

8. In a cotton row stripper including a frame and a vertically inclined stripper roll supported by the frame and having a forward end, an arm supported beneath and laterally spaced from the roll, said arm having a rear end slidably and swingably mounted on the frame, and a nger on the forward end of the arm suspended from the frame and extending beyond the forward end of the roll and inclining upwardly and rearwardly past and alongside of the forward end of the roll for guiding and lifting plants toward the roll.

` 9; In aV cotton row stripper including a frameand a vertically inclined stripper roll supported by the frame and having a forward end, a pair of spaced parallel arms having forward and rear ends, means attached to the frame slidably and swingably supporting the arms below the alongside of the roll, and a pair of inclined fingers secured to the forward ends of the arms and supported by the frame, said ngers inclining upwardly past and alongside of the forward end of the roll.

10. The combination of claim 9, wherein one of said fingers extends rearwardly past the other of said fingers.

11. In a cotton row stripper including a frame having a forward arch and a vertically inclined power driven stripper roll supported on the frame and having a forward end, a cotton lifting and guiding device comprising a cross bar mounted on the frame and disposed rearwardly of and transversely of the roll, a pair of spaced parallel arms having rear terminal eyes slidably and swingably mounted on the bar, upwardly and rearwardly inclined fingers on the forward ends of the arms extending alongside of the forward end of the roll, and swivel rods securing the ngers to the arch and supporting the fingers and the forward ends of the arms relative to the roll.

l2. In a cotton row stripper including a frame having a forward arch and a vertically inclined power driven stripper roll supported on the frame and having a forward end, a cotton lifting and guiding device comprising a cross bar mounted on the frame and disposed rearwardly of and transversely of the roll, a pair of spaced parallel arms having rear terminal eyes slidably and swingably mounted on the bar, a first upwardly and rearwardly inclined nger on the forward end of one arm, a second upwardly and rearwardly inclined nger on the forward end of the other arm, said first finger being located between the roll and the second finger, said second finger extending rearwardly beyond the first finger, and a swivel rod securing each nger to the arch.

EDD DUGAN.

No references cited. 

